to be frank with you

[keannu]

These absolute infinitives frequently appear in most grammar books in Korea, but I doubt if they are actually used much in reality, especially "to be frank with you". Isn't "actully" more used than that? And what about the others?

gz115)
1.To tell (you) the truth
2. To begin with
3. To be frank (with you)
4. not to mention(=not to speak of)
5. to be sure
6. to make a long story short.

 

[5jj]

I think 'frankly' is more common that 'to be frank with you', but the others are common enough.

I cut rather than make a long story short.

 

[BobK]

No. They're quite common - particular among people who want to avoid dangling participles, as in

'[STRIKE]Judging[/STRIKE]To judge by the weather forecast, this is a bad day for travelling.'

(Of course, that's not the only use. A lot of them are fixed sentence modifiers; they occupy some space in a conversation without involving much thought [whil the speaker marshalls his/her thoughts.)

b

 

[BobK]

...

I cut rather than make a long story short.

I think 'make' is the Am Eng preference. It sounds very odd to me too.

b

 

[SoothingDave]

I think 'make' is the Am Eng preference. It sounds very odd to me too.

b

Yes, we make a long story short.

 

[keannu]

Not "actually" for "to be frank with you"? Is "actually" quite different from "frankly"?

 

[BobK]

Yes - in speakers who care what they mean; but sometimes they are used as a general-purpose sentence-modifier, to buy time - especially in something like a media interview. ;-)

b

 

[hombre viejo]

*NOT A TEACHER* "Frank" and "frankly" are both modifiers derived from the noun "frankness" which indicates plainness and candor in the communication. "Frank" is the adjective form, as in: "We should have a frank conversation about your ideas." "Frankly" is the adverb form, as in: "Frankly speaking, I think this is a very bad idea." "Actually" is also an adverb which indicates (1) it is a current event or circumstance, or (2) it is factual - however this word lacks the emphasis of being candid and plainspoken that "frankly" does.

 

[SoothingDave]

"Actually" is used when stating something true, and usually when correcting an error or misconception.

"Frankly" is used when expressing an opinion or a fact that may be difficult to admit or difficult to hear. When one is speaking candidly.

 

[Grumpy]

A lot of them are fixed sentence modifiers; they occupy some space in a conversation without involving much thought [whil the speaker marshalls his/her thoughts.)

Following on from Bobk's comment above; by far the most commonly used of these expressions in BrE is "Well". Watch anyone being asked a question on television. They will almost invariably start their reply with "Well...."

 

[BobK]

*NOT A TEACHER* "Frank" and "frankly" are both modifiers derived from the noun "frankness"
Really :-? I thought the derivation worked the other way. Silly me... and silly Online Etymology Dictionary. (Note - humour alert. The dictionary's not wrong: 'frank' predates 'frankness' by well over 200 years).
which indicates plainness and candor in the communication. "Frank" is the adjective form, as in: "We should have a frank conversation about your ideas." "Frankly" is the adverb form, as in: "Frankly speaking, I think this is a very bad idea." "Actually" is also an adverb which indicates (1) it is a current event or circumstance, or (2) it is factual - however this word lacks the emphasis
It's not just a question of 'emphasis'. The meanings are totally distinct.
of being candid and plainspoken that "frankly" does.

The order seems to me to be reversed; in fact your 'sense 1' scarcely exists in current English (although it is a very commonly used faux ami.)


b

PS Speakers of English are often unaware that actualité doesn't mean 'actuality'. It means 'truth', as Alan Clarke knew when he used the French in a Westminter debate.